10. social, ethical, moral considerations and the 6 R's

Question 1

What is ergonomics?

Answer 1

The study of the relationship between people and the things they do, the objects they use and their environment.

Question 2

What is anthropometrics?

Answer 2

The study of body measurements

Question 3

What is a product designed with ergonomics in mind more likely to be?

Answer 3

It is more likely to be easier and more straightforward to use

Question 4

What does the need for more raw materials cause?

Answer 4

A wide range of issues: such as
- deforestation
- mining and drilling
- carbon footprint

Question 5

What is the best way of combating CO2 emissions?

Answer 5

using the 6Rs

Question 6

What are the 6Rs?

Answer 6

• Repair
• Reuse
• Recycle
• Rethink
• Reduce
• Refuse

Question 7

What is repair?

Answer 7

To fix a broken product

Question 8

What is reuse?

Answer 8

To use a product again rather than replacing with a new one

Question 9

What is recycle?

Answer 9

To break down and process so a new material is produced

Question 10

What is rethink?

Answer 10

To change the design of a product to be more environmentally friendly

Question 11

What is reduce?

Answer 11

To make decisions that decrease the amount of waste produced

Question 12

What is refuse?

Answer 12

To avoid using a product to save on waste

Question 13

If products or materials have travelled a long way, what do they have that is larger?

Answer 13

a larger carbon footprint

Question 14

How do some companies try to manage carbon emissions?

Answer 14

• planting trees to absorb the CO2
• buying products locally to avoid CO2 emissions
• powering their facilities using renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint

Question 15

What are ethical issues?

Answer 15

Relating to right and wrong, eg ethical companies are often ones that act in a responsible way.

Question 16

What is fair trade?

Answer 16

Trade in which fair prices are paid to the farmers and workers who create products.

Question 17

What are the minimum standards for the pay and conditions of workers?

Answer 17

• workers are paid a fair wage
• their conditions are monitored and kept safe
• the use of safety equipment like goggles and guards is encouraged
• toxic chemicals that could harm staff are changed
• the use of sweatshops and child labour is banned

Question 18

How do you consider the social issues of a product?

Answer 18

Will the product bring harm to the people producing it or using it?

Question 19

How do you consider the cultural issues of a product?

Answer 19

Will the product cause offence? Is it accessible to everyone?

Question 20

How do you consider the economic issues of a product?

Answer 20

Is the product affordable for the target market the product is designed for?

Question 21

What are the 6 R’s used for by designers?

Answer 21

they are used to reduce the environmental impact of products

Question 22

What is primary recycling?

Answer 22

reusing products multiple times for the same purpose

Question 23

What is secondary recycling?

Answer 23

reusing a product in a different way from the one it was designed for

Question 24

What is tertiary recycling?

Answer 24

reprocessing of the material, and in many cases involves chemicals and/or heat to recover the recycled materials

Question 25

What do designers have a responsibility to do with the social factors?

Answer 25

They have a responsibility to consider these factors when designing